This Week in Real Estate: Prepping Your Home to Sell

Spaciousness does not have to come with a steep price tag, as one can see at 67 Fireside Lane in Setauket.

This hi-ranch tucked away on a cul-de-sac is listed for $399,000 and has three bedrooms, including a large master bedroom, as well as two bathrooms. It has an open floor plan, and a brand new eat-in kitchen with wood cabinetry, granite countertops, and stainless steel appliances. True to its street name, there is a fireplace located in the kitchen. The yard has room for a pool, and has a patio, oversized shed, and in-ground sprinklers.

Taxes for this home without STAR are $8,069, and are approximately $7,069 with STAR.

Those considering exploring this home can come to an open house on Sunday between 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. for a tour from Joanne Brady of Coach Real Estate of West Sayville.

Here are some more open houses in and around Three Village this weekend:

Saturday, Sept. 17

• 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.: 11 Hawks Nest Road, Stony Brook, $529,000. Four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom farm ranch in a private beach community with hardwood floors, raised panel doors, Anderson windows, all on a 2/3 acre wooded lot. Contact Lisa Jaeger at Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate of East Setauket.
• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: 14 Shawmont Lane, Stony Brook, $389,000. Four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom colonial with new hardwood floors, updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances and Corian countertops, formal dining room, fresh paint, and a new washer and dryer.  Contact Stephanie Carollo and Suzanne Parlatore at Shea and Sanders Real Estate of East Setauket.

Sunday, Sept. 18

• 12 p.m. – 2 p.m.: 9 Harmony Lane, Setauket, $497,777.  Four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom colonial on a cul-de-sac that was recently reduced by $50,000, which comes with a new kitchen and baths with earth-toned tile and granite, hardwood floors, a brick fireplace, a large den and family room, and a covered porch with a deck and patio near an in-ground pool. Contact  Deirdre DuBato at Prudential Douglas Elliman of Miller Place.
• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: 20 Main Street, Stony Brook, $399,000.  Three-bedroom, two-bathroom Victorian home with an eat-in kitchen, formal dining room, a home office, full basement, wood floors, and a detached two-car garage. Contact Michele Iglio and Rob Scarito at Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate of Smithtown.
• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: 5 Dogwood Drive, Stony Brook, $499,900.  Four-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom Cape with a living room with a fireplace, a sunny eat-in kitchen, a sun room, a mud room, a master bedroom with a nursery, and hardwood floors throughout.  Contact Marie Mahecha at Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate of Smithtown.
• 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.: 84 Strathmore Gate Drive, Stony Brook, $259,990 to $269,990.  Two-bedroom, 1.5-bathroom condominium in an over-55 community with new paint, updated carpeting, kitchen, and bath, as well as a formal dining room, central air conditioning, and amenities including a pool and clubhouse. Contact Joseph Sallustio and Arthur Pasqua at Coach Real Estate of Smithtown.
• 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.: 13 East Gate Lane, Setauket, $2,295,000.  Five-bedroom, 4.5-bathroom colonial on just shy of four acres with a large formal dining room,a full finished basement with a wine cellar, a heated in-ground pool with a waterfall, a cushioned hardcourt tennis court, and an expansive Bluestone patio.  Contact Diana Pombano at Coldwell Banker Residential of East Setauket.

SOLD!
246 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook closed on September 2 with a price tag of  $775,000. This five-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom historical home built in 1750 includes wide plank floors and paneling, four fireplaces, two-car garage, formal dining room, home office, and central air conditioning. This property was sold by Maria Gac from Prudential Douglas Elliman of East Setauket.

Sound Bites

Michele Iglio of Prudential Douglas Elliman Real Estate of Smithtown shares some advice for prepping your home before putting your home on the market.

• "De-clutter your house! You want to make a great first impression and here is your chance. Clean out the closets and remove the clutter around your home, especially in the kitchen. The less you keep on your countertops the better! Also, the cabinets should not be overflowing with pots and pans. You may need to rent a storage unit but it will be worth it to make your space appear bigger and neater. 
• "Remain anonymous.  Keep your family and personal photos to a minimum.  It is important for your house to appear welcoming and have “personality” but you want buyers to imagine themselves in the home creating memories.
• "Get out those brushes and paint! Painting is an inexpensive way to refresh your house. Keep in mind, that while you may love that Fire Engine Red paint in your living room it may not appeal to all buyers. Select neutral colors that will help the rooms to appear more spacious and bright.  Also, if you have any water stains that are left over from something you have already repaired, be sure to paint over it. 
• "Make it sparkle. Pretend your mother-in-law is coming over for the first time and clean, clean, clean! Don’t forget the windows and baseboards, too. Buyers appreciate a clean home and often feel more confident about the structure.
• "Carpets and Floors. Consider hiring a good carpet cleaner to clean your carpets. If you have broken tiles, repair them. You do not want to spend a lot of money but you want to diminish any negative impressions buyers may have.
• "Consider hiring a staging professional. They can help to highlight your home’s strengths and downplay its weaknesses.

"After you have taken these steps work with your real estate agent to price your house correctly. Then, take a deep breath and sell your house!”